Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.2) Question: What is the significance of a sefer of collected rulings without explanation? Answer It would seem that if a scholar made a ruling in a specific case before him according to what he read in a book written by a great scholar which lacks the reasoning used for his ruling that that is not considered a halachic ruling at all and another authority can rule just the opposite whether strictltly or leniently. Nontheless it seems reasonable that in fact this is a halachic ruling since he is basing himself on the ruling of a well known authority who obviously had a legitimate reason for his ruling. Even though the second person did not know the reason it seems others can also rule like the original authority.
Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.3) Question: Is it permitted translating Seforim such as the Bible and Mishna since Moshe translated the Torah in 70 languages? Answer It is not relevant to learn from Moshe since he didn’t write the translation but said it.
Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.4) Question Translating the Hebrew Bible which is the Written Torah? Answer We see in fact that the Bible has many translations such as Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonason. Tosfos (Moed Koton 3b) also indicates that there is actually preference to Targum because of the principle that Written material is not to be said orally Writing and printing is clearly permitted because of the needs of the time (ais l’asos).
Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.5) Question Should the translation of Mishnayos and halachic rulings be avoided because of concerns for of the accuracy of the translation? Answer There is no prohibition of translating mishnayos and halachic rulings. However the main concern is that the translator understands the importance of correctly translating. Even a small error in translating can lead to major consequences. Study the introduction to the translation from Arabic to Hebrew to the Rambam’s commentary to the Mishna. These concerns are even greater for an English translation Therefore it is best to avoid translations. However if a person knows that he is capable of proper translation in English and he is regarded as such by others as well as being a talmid chachom who is very knowledgable in Mishna and he desires to ranslate it is not prohibited. In spite of all this, I would advise not to be involved with translations. It is always better to first learn Hebrew or Aramaic first and study ther original text. None the less there is no prohibition in translating.
Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.6) Question Publishing translation of halacha seforim with the reasoning behind the rulings or just the final conclusions? Answer According to what I have written, works such as Rambam and Shulchan Aruch which are the final halacha – there is no problem to translate them. But it is important that all that they wrote should be fully translated without deviation from what they wrote. If the translator wishes to add an explanation, it should be added as a footnote to the main text and noted whether it is his explanation or that of someone else.
Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.7) Question: Translating halachic rulings which everyone needs to know and it is impossible to ask a Rav when an actual question arises? Answer As regarding the translating of halachic rulings for those matters needed by everyone and a Rav can not be asked when the question arises such as the laws of shema and prayer, these should be translated so that those who don’t know Hebrew can learn them. However it is sufficient to write withyout a full explanation of the reasoning and sources. Because the reasoning might interfere with the knowledge of the halacha and he might end up ignoring the halacha. This is true even for a very intelligent person who is very learned in secular ideas. Eventually he will start learning in a yeshiva where his rabbi will decide what is appropriate for him to learn. Concerning matters which seem strange to him, they should not be presented. Thus it is best that beginners should only be exposed to material that their rabbi think they can properly understand well. In these matters it is best to not produce books in English but rather he should receive a personal explanation from his Rabbi. However it could be that the benefits of such books is greater than their loss and therefore their publication should not be protested. It is best if the writersof such books should first consult with his rabbi or with a Gadol before publishing them.
Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.8) Question Is it permitted to produce an English sefer about kashrus for those just beginning religious observance without explaining the reasoning or books of ethical behavior and theology Answer Writing about topics such as the laws of washing hands (netilas yadayim), grace after meals. blessing of ahl hamichya, blessings on pleasure, salting meat and other laws of kashrus, such a book should be produced in English so that the basic laws of eating should be known. This is important especially since the beginner is spending extra money to keep kosher. Howver only the summary of the halacha should be written and to first explain the seriousness of eating or drinking prohibited things. The reasoning behind the halacha should be left out. And it should simply stated that this is what is said in the Torah which was given through Moshe at Sinai. Writing such a sefer is definitely a good idea. Even in mentioning halacha, only the minimal amount that is needed by the beginners that they must observe now should be written, while the finer details can wait to be studied later. This applies also if the sefer is in Yiddish There are other topics that need to be in English. That is because most women only know English and most did not acquire sufficient knowledge from their parent’s home for example the laws of Nidah and even prohibited food as well as muktzeh on Shabbos and Yom Tov or eating and drinking on Yom Kippur. All these need to be printed in English to prevent errors. It is also appropriate to produce books of ethics and theology which are also Torah and thus are not prohibited. All things that can influence greater religious observance are obligatory even if it requires citing verses and statements of Chazal.
Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.9) Question : Is it prohibited to publish seforim in English? Answer Those seforim which have been translated and published, it is not prohibited to read them for those who have difficulty reading the original Hebrew if it is a good translation. However it is best to learn Hebrew so the original can be studied. It is clearly easier for some to learn the translation and thus they learn more and perhaps understand it better than if they had only the Hebrew. It is thus best not to permit translations but if done they are permitted to be read.
Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.10) Question : Are English translations prohibited since goyim can use them to study Torah? Answer I don’t think that should prevent English translations since they will primarily studied by Jews. We also see that authorities such as the Rambam was not concerned since he published in Arabic
First, who asked these questions? By Rav Moshe's time there was already an English Talmud, English Rashi and lots of other seforim out in English. Wasn't it obvious?
ReplyDeleteSecond, I recall when Artscroll published Nishmat Avraham and I showed a friend of mine. He was quite upset. "This is a 'rabbi book'. You're not supposed to publish those in English!"
And the point is: If you're going to pasken, you need to be able to read the original.